Italy

Situated in Mediterranean Europe, Italy has land frontiers with France in the north-west, Switzerland and Austria in the north and Slovenia in the north-east. The peninsula is surrounded by the Ligurian Sea, the Sardinian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea in the west, the Sicilian Sea and the Ionian Sea in the south and the Adriatic Sea in the east. Italian is the language of the majority of the population but there are minorities speaking German, French, Slovene and Ladino.

The moderating influence of the sea and the protection given by the Alpine barrier from the cold north winds join to bless Italy with a temperate climate. Nevertheless, the weather varies considerably according to how far one is from the sea or the mountains.

Capital is Roma, most important cities are Milano, Napoli, Torino, Palermo, Firenze, Velence.

Time zone is (GMT) +1 hour, in summer GMT +2 óra. Daylight saving time in Italy goes into effect each year usually from the end of March to the middle of October.

Emergency Telephone Numbers

112 for Carabinieri's service

113 for Emergency Police Help

115 for the Fire Department

116 for the A.C.I. (Italian Automobile Club) - for road side assistance

118 for Medical Emergencies

176 International Inquires

There is an extensive and well maintained road network. Tolls are charged on the autostrade (highways). As in the rest of continental Europe, vehicles travel on the right and overtake on the left. The wearing of seatbelts is compulsory for front and back seat passengers as well as for the driver. The use of portable telephones is prohibited if they require intervention by hand to function.

Highways and Roads Highways are indicated by the letter "A" followed by a number written in white on a green background. They are almost all subject to tolls, except for some brief stretches, especially approaching urban areas.

Italy recognises driving licenses and other traffic documents that are valid in other countries. U.S. and Canadian driving licenses are valid in Italy but the license must be accompanied by a translation or an international license (check your local AAA in USA or CAA in Canada). For motorists not in possession of an International Driving license, the ACI (Automobile Club d'Italia) will issue a declaration upon presentation of a U.S. or a Canadian license. The declaration is obtainable at any ACI offices. Seat belts are compulsory in Italy.

Speed limits are fixed at 50 km (31 miles) per hour in urban areas, 90 km (56 miles) per hour on secondary and local roads, 110 km (68 miles) per hour on main roads outside urban areas and 130 km (80 miles) per hour on highways, with penalties for violation in proportion to the amount of the excess.

Thanks to Italy's mountainous geography, the country offers plenty of good ski resorts, including the famous Cortina d'Ampezzo and Courmayeur. The best winter sports facilities can be found in Italy's northern, Alpine regions, which are well-served by flights from Canada. But even the south of Italy can offer a few winter sports options. Skiing is popular in Italy and, thanks to the number of ski resorts, a fairly commonplace activity. A large proportion of Italians, in addition to their month-long summer holiday, will take a 'settimana bianca' (white week) and spend a week skiing in the winter.